• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.45-64
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• 2024

Objectives: This study is purposed to investigate the effect and safety of laser therapy for stroke patients by systematic review and meta-analysis of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: RCTs on the treatment of laser therapy for stroke patients were selected among the literature published from January 2000 to June 2022 in twelve domestic and foreign databases. The quality of the literature was evaluated using the Cochrane's Risk of Bias tool and RevMan 5.4 was used for the synthesis of results. Results: Total 2,598 patients with stroke were finally selected from 18 RCTs. Meta-analysis showed that laser therapy was effective in significantly improving activities of daily living (MBI), motor function (effective rate), upper motor function (FMA-UE), shoulder pain related factors (CGRP, ET-1, BK). Overall, the risk of bias was uncertain or low in the quality assessment of the literature. Conclusions: Although it is unclear that laser therapy is more effective than sham laser, laser therapy might be more effective in improving symptoms than conventional rehabilitation alone. Furthermore, no serious adverse events were founded in laser therapy studies. However, the quality of the selected literature was generally low. Therefore, further studies with high methodological quality on laser therapy for stroke patients would be required in the future.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.372-388
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• 2018

Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: Using the keywords "benign prostatic hyperplasia", "benign prostatic hypertrophy", "benign prostatic enlargement", "prostatic hyperplasia", and "moxibustion", we searched papers in numerous databases, including National Discovery for Science Leaders (NDSL), Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal (KTKP), Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL. The search range included randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Papers not matched with inclusion criteria were excluded. The methodological quality of each RCT was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Where appropriate, meta-analyses were performed. Results: Initially, 77 studies were found. Of these, 11 duplicate studies were removed and 27 were excluded following title and abstract screening. After the remaining 39 papers were scanned, 13 RCTs were selected and analyzed. Among these 13 RCTs, five compared moxibustion therapy and oral medication, seven compared moxibustion plus acupuncture therapy and oral medication, and one compared moxibustion plus acupuncture therapy and sham-moxibustion. The meta-analysis showed positive results for the use of moxibustion therapy in terms of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Quality Of Life (QOL), Maximum Flow Rate (Qmax), Prostate Volume (PV), and the efficacy rate. The meta-analysis showed positive results for the use of moxibustion plus acupuncture therapy in terms of IPSS, QOL, and the efficacy rate. Conclusions: This meta-analysis of clinical trials suggests that moxibustion is effective intreating BPH patients. The results of this study could be applied to clinical treatment of BPH. However, additional large-scale clinical researches should be conducted.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.27-40
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• 2009

Background : Qigong is an energy-healing intervention used to prevent and cure ailments and to improve health through regular practice. Although qigong-neither itself nor its postulated mechanism of action-are within the paradigm of modern Western medical science, its effects on the human body could be possible. Objectives : This study aims to review the bibliography, biological responses and therapeutic effects of Qigong. In the process, this review will grasp trends in this field of studies and will direct further researches into the right direction. Method : The computerized Korean databases were searched from their respective inceptions up to January 2008. The search terms used were 'qi', 'qigong', 'doin', 'training', 'bioenergy', 'life nurturing' and random or Korean language terms related to qigong. Several specialized journals were also manually searched for relevant articles. Result : Since the 1990s, Qigong papers in the Korean Literature are increased. The articles on Korean traditional medicine had been published more than those on physical education or nursing etc. However, since the majority of the trials determine questionnaire, it was difficult to determine the efficacy of a specific intervention. The methodological quality of the trials was generally low (Jadad score: mean, 1.3; range, 1 to 4), questioning their reliability. Conclusions : More profound studies for Qigong are needed. Further rigorous clinical trials with more objective outcome measures that include sham procedures should be performed. Specifically, we think it should be clinical studies and qualitative research methods for evaluation are needed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.15-22
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• 1998

Laser photobiostimulation (LPBS) is one of the recent additions to therapeutic procedures used in chronic pain management. Though widely used, a clear understanding of its mechanism of action was not disclosed. In addition, the energy density that produces maximal benefit has not yet been established. The purposes of this study were to determine the effects of LPBS on pain relief in rat and to determine treatment dosage. Eight, 8-week old female, Sprague-Dawley rats were employed. All subjects were assigned to one of four groups: a sham laser group, a 0.4 $J/cm^2$ laser group, a 2.0 $J/cm^2$ laser group, and a 6.0 $J/cm^2$ laser group. Ga-As laser (904 nm wavelength) of three different energy densities (0.4, 2.0, 6.0 $J/cm^2$) was applied on a tail acupuncture point and tail-flick latencies were measured five times pre-and post-treatment as following schedules: 30 minutes, 1 hour. 24 hours. 48 hours, and 7 days later. An increase in pain threshold was demonstrated following LPBS, employing rat tail-flick test. LPBS of 2.0 $J/cm^2$ produced hypoalgesia of rapid onset and short duration (1 hour, 24 hours) while the response to 6.0 $J/cm^2$ was delayed and lasted longer (48 hours, 7 days). LPBS of 0.4 $J/cm^2$ did not produce any hypoalgesia.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.39-53
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this review was to overview and evaluate the efficacy of electroacupunture for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) Methods: Relevant randomized controlled studies (RCTs) were identified by database searches in PubMED, EMBASE, OASIS, and Google scholar, up to May 2018. Data were extracted regarding hyperandrogenism, obesity and hyperinsulinemia indices. The risk of bias was assessed. Results: Five RCTs were included for analysis. In one RCT, electroacupuncture group had significantly lower free testosterone and testosterone, compared to no treatment group. However, The other RCTs showed no significant difference between two groups. For LH/FSH, Ferriman Gallway score, anti-mullerian hormone, body mass index, weight and waist, and insulin, electroacupuncture group showed no significant difference, compared to physical exercise, no treatment, and sham acupuncture group. Conclusions: Only a limited number of RCTs have been reported. At present, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of electroacupuncture for treatment of PCOS.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.145-156
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was resigned to observe change of body temperature for patients with low back muscular pain after NUGA MRT-II(pulsed electromagnetic therapy) treatment. Methods: This study was a randomized, patient-assessor blind, placebo-controlled, pilot trial study. After the approval of institutional review board(IRB), we have recruited 38 patients suffering from low back muscular pain and divided them into two groups randomly: the treatment group and control group. To the treatment group, NUGA MRT-II was practiced and to the control group sham device was practiced and their low back muscles and acupuncture points three times a week for 2 weeks from February 2011 to May 2011. After 1 week of last treatment, We compared body temperature of two groups. Results: 1. There was significant decrease of body temperature on both Shinsu(BL23), Chishil(BL52), Kwanwonsu(BL26) acupunture points for the treatment group. 2. There was no difference in the decrease of body temperature between treatment group and control group except. Left Kwanwonsu(BL26). Conclusions: We found out that treatment of NUGA MRT-II on low back muscular pain can reduce the temperature of low back.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.55-71
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• 2006

Objectives : The present study was investigated the effect and pathway of heterotopic electroacupuncture (EA) on pain induced by formalin in rats. Methods : Acupoints in the right forepaws, $HT_7$ and $PC_7$, were stimulated with 3 mA, 2 ms, and 10 Hz before subcutaneously formalin injection (5%, $50{\mu}l$) to the left hind paw. Moreover, it was investigated whether the dorsolateral funiculus (DLF), as known to the descending inhibition, mediates analgesia of the heterotopic EA, and an administration of naltrexone blocks the effect of EA. Results : In the immunohistochemistry of cFos-like protein (cFL), there were inhibitory effects of EA on the increased expression of cFL in the lumbar spinal dorsal horn neurons following formalin injection. Especially, EA inhibited the expression of cFL on the superficial laminae than that on the deep laminae at 1 hr after, but that on the deep laminae than that on the superficial laminae at 2 hr after. Also, EA suppressed the increased expression of nitric oxide (NO) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the lumbosacral spinal cord after formalin injection, but not Sham-EA. Suppressed expressions of cFL, NO and nNOS in the spinal cord were eliminated after transection of the ipsilateral DLF at $T_{10}{\sim}T_{11}$ levels. However, pretreatment of naltrexone could not prevent the suppressive expressions of cFL, NO and nNOS at the spinal cord. Conclusions : These results suggest that the analgesia of heterotopic EA may be modulated through the DLF constituting the descending inhibition.